Me & My Tuba, Add You & Yours

[bort]

If I can figure out how to take a tuba selfie, I'll post one of my RM45!

Ok, I figured it out. Actually, here's a twofer... tuba and dog. She likes to sit next to me and sleep while I practice. I don't take it personally.

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[Tubajug]

Lookin' good there bort!

[imperialbari]

It is possible to wake up the interest of the sleeping:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJO21mXyRWM

[highsierra]

Nice Rudy Bort.....gotta love it!

[Jay Bertolet]

If I can figure out how to take a tuba selfie, I'll post one of my RM45!

Ok, I figured it out. Actually, here's a twofer... tuba and dog. She likes to sit next to me and sleep while I practice. I don't take it personally.

If you intend to keep that horn long term bort, you should consider putting a stick on the main tuning slide. Properly installed, it would come to just about where your current hand position is in that picture plus it would allow you to adjust all the notes on the horn, not just the ones for any individual valve slide. It looks like they did a really good job on your bell, enjoy!

[bort]

Thanks guys!

I'll keep that in mind about the tuning slide bar, although I'm not in a rush for that right now. I'm not regularly playing in any ensembles right now, so after that starts back up, perhaps I'll feel a little different about it.

We'll see. Matt Walters did an excellent job with the bell. It's a little bit fragile, so I don't sit the tuba on its bell if I can avoid it. You can't see it in this picture, but the lacquer is about 75% gone on the bell from the leadpipe on up. Eventually I'll strip down the rest of that part of the bell to clean it up, but otherwise will just leave things alone. I'm not worried about the "raw brass bell means damage!" aspect of it that some people mention... I agree that it does signal that, but that doesn't particularly bother me.

[KevinMadden]

I have a bit of a gear acquisition problem...

[David Richoux]

I have a bit of a gear acquisition problem...

You keep all of that on the ship?

[KevinMadden]

I have a bit of a gear acquisition problem...

You keep all of that on the ship?

yup, I drive to/from the ship so flying isn't an issue (though I will be flying to my next contract and will only be bringing one bone and one tuba) The Sousa is ship owned so it has a storage spot, the tubas live backstage and the bones all manage to live in my cabin. The only hard part is leaving for vacation (like I will tomorrow) carrying all that plus whatever suitcases/bags I'll have in one trip is a bit rough.

[BopEuph]

yup, I drive to/from the ship so flying isn't an issue (though I will be flying to my next contract and will only be bringing one bone and one tuba) The Sousa is ship owned so it has a storage spot, the tubas live backstage and the bones all manage to live in my cabin. The only hard part is leaving for vacation (like I will tomorrow) carrying all that plus whatever suitcases/bags I'll have in one trip is a bit rough.

You work as a tubist on a cruise ship? Tell me a bit more.

I was a bassist on the Celebrity Galaxy. Wasn't my bag, but they weren't happy when I brought my euphonium to shed with. It, surprisingly, fit under the bunk.

[BopEuph]

And since I've been peeking in the last few days:


This beat-up 12J sees more action than you might expect. Done some high profile gigs with this guy, and he's held his own.

[Bob Kolada]

Kevin, why both tubas aboard?

[KevinMadden]

Kevin, why both tubas aboard?

At first just to keep chops up. But since having both horns on board, we've started a brass quintet and a 'Birth of the Cool' ensemble which I think lie better on the Eb. That being said, I've been driving from NJ to FL twice a year to accommodate all that gear. I won't be able to drive for my next contract so it'll probably be just the Eb and the King bone.

[BopEuph]

So you were hired as a trombone player, and happened to play tuba as well as the ship had a sousaphone on board?

[Dean E]

With the Burning Band at the 2013 Burning Man Festival at Black Rock City, Nevada. York BBb Sousaphone, about 1952. This pic is from the Billion Bunny March, immediately after the band's Little Black Dress March.

[Heliconer]

Me with my new Buescher Helicon with Miraphone 1291 Bell

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[KevinMadden]

So you were hired as a trombone player, and happened to play tuba as well as the ship had a sousaphone on board?

Nope hired as a tuba player actually. Didn't play any trombone until I got on the ship, and only bought one from boredom actually! When Royal Caribbean picked up the rights for CHICAGO, one of the requirements was that there would be no instrumental tracks (or that tracks would only be used when someone is sick) and that the bass line would still be on tuba. In NYC the chair is played by a bass/tuba doubler. On the ship they went with two separate musicians. When I got on board and was only working a few days a week, I bought a 3b and learned the big band book. Dixieland came later and the sousaphone was actually on another ship (that never had a tubist.. why idk) so we had it sent over.

[Paul S]

[tubacharlie]

Like potato chips you cant have just one.

[Three Valves]

Back in the day...

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